Chickens sleeping in boxes at night D:

[Havenhill Farn]

You should try bamboo. Mine seem to prefer that to anything. And they do fight over who gets to roost by the rooster. Just like a girl

 

[AussieHens96]

I'm wondering if your birds have a physical condition that makes it hard for them to get up on the roosts. I had a chicken get badly injured in a dog attack and couldn't get up on the roost, so I made a tiered kind of roost system that allowed her to make several smaller jumps so she could get up with the other chickens at night.

I've also had Cornish Rocks that are simply just too fat to roost so they never even tried. Any idea what breed your chickens are that won't roost?

one 18 week old silkie, two 10 week old Isa Browns and a 18 week old Silver laved speckled wyandotte

 

[AussieHens96]

In cases like this you gotta try to think like a chicken.. lol

My guess is that because they are the same height the nest is potentially more comfortable and offers an even more secure feeling for the chickens at night, so I doubt you will see a change in behavior. Is there any way you can lower your nests down a couple feet below your roosts?

I know that probably sounds like a lot of work ,but your chickens don't understand that one place is for sleeping and the other is for eggs and have no clue that pooping in the nests is inappropriate and unacceptable behavior.

So if you really want a change in behavior you need to provide a roost that is instinctual for them to go to. Right now your nests provide height and security at night, which is what instinct demands, so that's where they go.


Also, one other thing. Chickens actually have a favorite spot on the roosts. Mine actually peck and fight over their favorite spots. I'm wondering if you have plenty of extra room on the roosts. If you have 1 chicken that pecks a lot it may be forcing the other chickens to roost elsewhere. Providing more roosting space may help solve this particular issue, if such is the case. Good luck!

Due to the construction of the coop, the boxes can't be lowered or raised. :/ We'll try and add slightly higher bars, if we can.